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UH GOES GREEN WITH NEW TRASH BINS

It is
out with the old and in with the new
for trash containers at the
University Center and Philip Guthrie
Hoffman Hall. UH has recently
installed Big Belly Solar trash
compactors, an intelligent waste
collection system that will replace
several regular trash bins and
support green initiatives on campus.

Four total Big Belly Solar units
were put in place, two at the UC and
two at PGH, in mid November as part
of a pilot program to see how the
units would work on our campus. Big
Belly Solar is said to be the first
system in the world that uses
renewable power and information
technology in order to lower
operating costs, fuel consumption
and greenhouse gas emissions
associated with the waste collection
process. It is completely powered by
the sun and can hold five times the
volume of ordinary trash
receptacles. Approximately 160
gallons of trash can be contained in
the 32-gallon inner bin.

“Since placing the compactor, we
have been able to remove 3-4 trash
receptacles around the area,” said
James Ballowe, UH Central Facilities
Manager. “We currently pick up
containers daily, sometimes twice
per day. This should eliminate the
number of pickups per day.”

The more trash the receptacle can
hold, the less man-power is needed
to empty the bins. This means
reduced fuel consumption and carbon
emissions, not to mention a
reduction in costs to maintain the
vehicles.

Alongside each of the trash bins is
a companion recycling bin. The
side-by-side kiosk design is meant
to divert recyclables from ending up
in landfills by providing a
convenient proximity for disposal.
Big Belly Solar reported their
customers inform them of reduced
litter, increased recycling rates
and low incidence of
cross-contamination with the use of
the recycling kiosks.

Big Belly Solar is made in the
United States using post consumer
recycled car bumpers for the side
panels and front cover. The systems
are currently being used in popular
sites across the country including
Boston’s Fenway Park, San Antonio’s
Alamo and Chicago’s Millennium Park.

So far, Ballowe said the units have
received positive feedback from
students. The Big Belly Solar waste
collection system is yet another
example of UH’s sustainability
efforts. For more information on
Green UH, visit
http://www.uh.edu/af/greenUH/.